Wire wrapping tool

ABSTRACT

A tool for cutting and stripping an insulated wire, and for wrapping a portion of the wire on a terminal. This is accomplished with the convenience of a side loading tool having a unique wire retaining finger which retains the wire during wrapping and allows the stripped insulation to be ejected after wrapping. A reciprocating sleeve cooperates with a rotary bit to capture and partially strip an insulated wire. The wire is dressed into an axial slot in both the bit and the sleeve by a unique dressing collar. The wire is depressed further and retained in the rotary bit slot by the retaining finger which closes the slot in the sleeve after dressing. Operation of the tool cuts off excess wire and withdraws the wire from remaining insulation as it is wrapped on the terminal.

United States Patent H91 Allen Jan. 7, 1975 WIRE WRAPPING TOOL Primary ExaminerThomas H. Eager [75] Inventor: Edward L. Allen, Athens, Pa. gigs? Agent or Flrm walter Vllet; Davld [73] Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company, Woodcliff Lake Ni 57 ABSTRACT [22] Flled: 1973 A tool for cutting and stripping an insulated wire, and [21] Appl. No: 404,264 for wrapping a portion of the wire on a terminal. This is accomplished with the convenience of a side loading tool having a unique wire retaining finger which re- [52] US. Cl 29/203 DT, 29/203 H tains the wire during wrapping and allows the Stripped [51] Int. Cl. H01r 43/04, H05k 13/04 insulation to be ejected after wrapping, 'A reciprocat- [58] held of Search 29/203 203 203 ing sleeve cooperates with a rotary bit to capture and 29/203 R partially strip an insulated wire. The wire is dressed into an axial slot in both the bit and the sleeve by a [56] References C'ted unique dressing collar. The wire is depressed further UN D S A PATENTS and retained in the rotary bit slot by the retaining fin- 3,l22,826 3/1964 Self 29/203 B ger which closes the slot in the sleeve after dressing. 3,553,813 l/l97l Brown, Jr. et a] 29/203 DT Operation of the tool cuts off excess wire and with- 3,624,888 12/1971 Kester 29/203 H draws the wire from remaining insulation as it is wrapped on the terminal.

12 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Patented Jan. 7, 1975 3,858,295

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illllllll WIRE WRAPPING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the manufacture and repair of electrical equipment, it is often necessary to make wire connections to terminals. Wire wrapping is one method that has found wide use in equipment such as computers and switching gear. Wire wrapping is accomplished by wrapping the bare end of a wire around a terminal under tension sufficient to securely fasten the wire to the terminal. It may be accomplished by manual or automatic apparatus.

The prior art contains many examples of wire wrapping tools which with varying degrees of automation and success wrap the end of a wire on a terminal. Generally, the end of the wire is disposed in a longitudinal passageway which terminates in an opening in the end of the tool adjacent to a recess for accepting the terminal. When the tool is rotated, the wire is withdrawn from the passageway, bent through a relatively small radius of curvature to produce or control tension on the wire, and wrapped around the terminal. Tools shown in prior art patents vary considerably as to their wire requirements. Some require a wire cut to length and stripped, while others have attempted to minimize or eliminate wire preparation. The ideal tool would accept spool wire, automatically cut it to length, strip the insulation, and wrap it on a terminal.

Two types of wire loading are in common use. One type is end loading where the wire must be inserted in a relatively small hole in the end of the wrapping bit. This can be extremely difficult with short or small gauge wires. A second type is the more recent and more convenient side loading bit. The development in side loading bits has eliminated'the need to thread the wire through an aperture in the bit.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide a tool for automatically cutting and stripping an insulated wire and for wrapping a portion thereof on a terminal. The tool has the following features: A side loading bit capable of accepting spool wire without additional preparation, an insulation cutting edge which in cooperation with the relative movement between bit and sleeve effects a partial stripping of the insulation wire, a wire cutting edge which upon rotation of the bit in the sleeve causes the wires to be cut to the proper length for a satisfactory terminal wrap, a unique means for dressing the wire captured between sleeve and bit into a longitudinal recess in the bit, a unique cam operated door which retains the wire in the bit recess during the wrapping operation, and a simple but effective means for ejecting the stripped wire insulation after the wrap has been completed.

In general, these and other objects are met in a tool for cutting and stripping an insulated wire and for wrapping a portion thereof on a terminal comprising: a motor, a reciprocating sleeve, a rotatable side load wrapping bit operably connected to said motor at one end, said bit having a first recess formed in its other end for receiving a terminal, and a second recess extending from said other end along its periphery for receiving a wire; means for initiating the severance of wire insulation as the wire is captured; and means independent'of said sleeve for retaining said severed insulation within said second recess as the wire is withdrawn therefrom and wrapped on a terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric assembly view, having portions broken away and shown in section, of a wrapping tool illustrating an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tip of the wrapping tool shown in its initial extended loading position.

FIG. 3 is a left side (viewed from the tip) elevation of the wrapping tool shown in its'retracted wrapping position.

FIG. 4 is a partial right side elevation, having portions broken awayand shown in section, of the wrapping tool shown in its extended loading position.

FIG. 5 is a section of the tip showing the sleeve in the extended initial loading or capture position.

FIG. 6 is a section of the tip showing the sleeve in an intermediate position.

FIG. 7 is a section of the tip showing the sleeve in the retracted or wrapping position.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the complete tool including motor and handle.

FIG. 9 is a section of the tip in wrapping position.

FIG. 10 is a section of retracting piston chamber in the retracted position.

FIG. 11 is an end elevation of the wrapping tool shown in the loading configuration.

FIG. 12 is an end elevation of the wrapping tool shown in the wrapping configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The operation and description of the invention in the form of the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings may best be understood by referring to FIG. I for general assembly and for operation of the related parts and should be consulted unless otherwise referenced.

A motor (40) (FIG. 8) with an accurate homing device (50) (FIG. 8) drives spindle 1 to which is attached wrapping bit 2 by means of pin 3. Motor casing 4 supports a housing 5. Housing 5 supports sleeve 6 and forms piston chamber 7 in which piston 8 is reciprocally mounted. Piston 8 is connected to sleeve 6 and is urged to its forward position by means of spring 9.. Suitable O-ring seals are shown at 10 and 11 to seal the piston 8 and sleeve 6. Air enters the piston chamber 7 via inlet port 12. (Shown in FIG. 4.)

Dressing collar 14 is slidably mounted on sleeve 6 and is actuated by means of lever arms 15 and 16. Lever arm l6 is operably connected to sector gear 17, which in turn is meshed with rack gear 18. Lever arm 16 is mounted to housing 5, and rack gear 18 is part of carrier 19, which is mounted on sleeve 6.

Retaining finger 20 is rotatably mounted on carrier 19 by means of hinge pin 21. Cam pin 22 engages cam surface 23 on housing 5, which causes retaining finger 20 to rotate to a closed position as sleeve 6 is retracted to its rear position (shown on FIG. 4).

Wrapping bit 2 has a terminal receiving recess 24 and an axial groove 25 for receiving the wires to be wrapped (shown in FIG. 11). Sleeve 6 has a perpendicular wire capturing slot 26 (shown in FIG. 2) and an axial slot 27 for receiving a wire when in rotational alignment with groove 25 to facilitate deposition of the wire through slot 26 and into groove 25. Groove 25 has an insulation cutting edge 32 located near slot 26.

Sleeve 6 has a knife edge wire cutting surface 28 and a spring clip 29 for insulation removal. Relief slot 31 allows the wire not being wrapped to escape capture during the wrapping cycle.

In operation an insulated wire is inserted in slot 26 in a manner perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve 6 and wrapping bit 2 (see FIG. Auxiliary air trigger 42 (FIG. 8) is activated and air is admitted to piston chamber 12 via auxiliary air line 30 causing piston 8 to move to its retracted position and causing sleeve 6 to retract. As sleeve 6 retracts, the relative movement between sleeve 6 and bit 2 captures the end of the insulated wire to be wrapped and causes it to be disposed in axial groove 25 (see FIG. 6). As the wire is disposed in groove 25, the relative movement between the sleeve 6 and bit 2 causes the wire to be forced against the insulation cutting edge 32. Further relative. movement causes the wire to be further disposed in the groove 25 and the edge of slot 26 in cooperation with insulation cutting edge (32) causes the insulation in the wire to be partially stripped (see FIG. 7.)

Simultaneous with the retraction of sleeve 6 and activated by the relative movement of sleeve 6 through rack gear 18, sector gear 17, and lever arms 15 and 16, dressing collar 14 moves from its extended position beyond capture slot 26 to a retracted position shown in FIG. 3. During this movement dressing collar 14 presses the insulation wire into groove 25.

Also simultaneous with the retraction of sleeve 6, retaining finger is rotated about hinge pin 21 into a position which substantially closes axial slot 27 and encloses the wire in groove 25. The rotation of retaining finger 20 is accomplished by the action of cam surface 23 on cam pin 22 as sleeve 6 is retracted.

FIG. 3 shows the tool in the ready to wrap position. The tool is positioned with the terminal receiving recess 24 receiving and surrounding the terminal of the apparatus to be wired. At this point the motor control valve trigger (41) (FIG. 8) is activated to cause the bit 2 to rotate relative to sleeve 6. The initial rotation cuts off any excess wire extending beyond groove 25 by causing it to be forced against wire cutting surface 28. Continued rotation causes the wire to be withdrawn from the insulation retained in groove 25 by insulating cutting edge 32 and/or friction in groove 25. Continued rotation also causes the wire to be wrapped in a continuous helix in a manner well-known in the art of rotary terminal wrapping bits.

Upon completion of the wrap, the motor control valve is closed and the bit is horned by means wellknown in the art to a position where groove 25 is in radial alignment with axial slot 27. The tool is then removed from the terminal. The auxiliary air is then released, and spring 9 causes the piston 8 and hence sleeve 6 to return to the extended or loading position. As the sleeve 6 is extended, spring clip 29 drops into groove 25 and expels the insulation retained therein from the wrap. Dressing collar 14 and retaining finger 20 are returned to the loading position automatically as the sleeve moves forward by reverse action of the cam and gear/lever means previously described. The tool is then ready to repeat the cycle and perform another wrap.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, except by the scope of the claims. Various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A tool for cutting and stripping an insulated wire and for wrapping a portion thereof on a terminal comprising:

a motor, a rotatable side load wrapping bit operably connected to said motor at one end, said bit having a first recess formed in its other end for receiving a terminal, and a second recess extending from said other end along its periphery for receiving a wire; a reciprocating sleeve co-axially mounted on said bit, said bit and said sleeve co-operating to capture an insulated wire;

means for initiating the severance of wire insulation as the wire is captured; and

means independent of said sleeve for retaining said severed insulation within said second recess as the wire is withdrawn therefrom and wrapped on a terminal.

2. A tool for cutting and stripping an insulated wire and for wrapping a portion thereof on a terminal comprising:

a motor and a rotary drive spindle;

a rotatable wrapping bit operably connected to said spindle at one end, said bit having a first recess formed in its other end for receiving a terminal, and a second recess extending from said other end along its periphery for receiving a partially stripped insulated wire, said second recess having an insulation cutting means disposed near said other end; sleeve slidably mounted co-axially with said wrapping bit, and operably connected at one end to a reciprocating means, said sleeve having an aperture at said other end for receiving insulated wire in a relationship generally transverse to the axis of said sleeve and a slot extending longitudinally from said aperture towards said one end, said slot having a wire cutting edge located near said one end of said sleeve; said sleeve being in the loading position when extended fully in a direction towards said other end and being in the wrapping position when fully retracted towards said one end; means for dressing said wire in said slot; and means for retaining said wire in said second recess. 3. The tool of claim 2 wherein: said sleeve and said bit cooperate on relative movement of said sleeve in the direction of said one end to capture said insulated wire and urge it against said insulating cutting means, and upon further relative movement, to separate the insulation and urge the wire towards said slot.

4. The tool of claim 2 wherein:

said dressing means comprises a collar' slidably mounted on said sleeve and moveable from a loading position near said other end of said sleeve and out board of said aperture to a wrapping position near said one end of said sleeve.

5. The tool of claim 2 wherein: I

said retaining means comprises a finger member rotatably mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of said sleeve and moveable from a loading position away from said slot to a wrapping position substantially filling said slot.

6. The tool of claim 2 wherein:

said dressing means is actuated by rack and pinion means in response to movement of said sleeve.

7. The tool of claim 2 wherein:

said retaining means is actuated by cam means in response to movement of said sleeve.

8. The tool of claim 2 wherein:

the partially stripped insulation is retained in said second recess as the wire is wrapped on the terminal.

9. The tool of claim 2 wherein:

upon fully wrapping the stripped wire on the terminal said bit is homed, and said sleeve is returned by said reciprocating means towards said another end, and said dressing means and retaining means are simultaneously returned to a loading position.

10. The tool of claim 2 wherein:

after the terminal is wrapped and the bit is homed, a

spring means in said slot removes the stripped insulation from said second recess as said sleeve is moved to the loading position, said insulation exits via said slot.

11. The tool of claim 2 wherein:

said reciprocating means comprises an air piston with spring return.

12. A tool for cutting and stripping an insulated wire,

and for wrapping a portion thereof on a terminal comprising:

a motor and a rotary drive spindle;

a rotatable wrapping bit operably connected to said spindle at one end, said bit having a terminal receiving recess formed in one end and a second recess extending longitudinally from said terminal receiving recess along the periphery of said bit, said second recess having a knife edge insulation parting insert disposed in said second recess near the opening for said terminal receiving recess;

a sleeve slidably mounted in co-axial relationship with said wrapper bit and operably connected to a pressure fluid operated piston reciprocating means at an end opposite of said terminal receiving recess such that said sleeve may be extended away from said reciprocating means beyond said bit to a loading position and retracted to a wrapping position, said sleeve having an aperture near the terminal end of said bit for receiving insulated wire in a relationship transverse to the axis of said sleeve and a slot extending longitudinally from said aperture towards said reciprocating means;

a wire dressing collar slidably disposed about said sleeve and operably connected to said sleeve by lever and rack and pinion means for urging said insulated wire into said slot as the sleeve is reciprocated between the loading and wrapping position;

a wire retaining means rotatably mounted about an axis parallel to said sleeve and cam operated between an open loading position and a position which substantially closes the slot; and

spring clip means disposed in said slot for urging out insulation retained in said second recess after wrapping. 

1. A tool for cutting and stripping an insulated wire and for wrapping a portion thereof on a terminal comprising: a motor, a rotatable side load wrapping bit operably connected to said motor at one end, said bit having a first recess formed in its other end for receiving a terminal, and a second recess extending from said other end along its periphery for receiving a wire; a reciprocating sleeve co-axially mounted on said bit, said bit and said sleeve co-operating to capture an insulated wire; means for initiating the severance of wire insulation as the wire is capTured; and means independent of said sleeve for retaining said severed insulation within said second recess as the wire is withdrawn therefrom and wrapped on a terminal.
 2. A tool for cutting and stripping an insulated wire and for wrapping a portion thereof on a terminal comprising: a motor and a rotary drive spindle; a rotatable wrapping bit operably connected to said spindle at one end, said bit having a first recess formed in its other end for receiving a terminal, and a second recess extending from said other end along its periphery for receiving a partially stripped insulated wire, said second recess having an insulation cutting means disposed near said other end; a sleeve slidably mounted co-axially with said wrapping bit, and operably connected at one end to a reciprocating means, said sleeve having an aperture at said other end for receiving insulated wire in a relationship generally transverse to the axis of said sleeve and a slot extending longitudinally from said aperture towards said one end, said slot having a wire cutting edge located near said one end of said sleeve; said sleeve being in the loading position when extended fully in a direction towards said other end and being in the wrapping position when fully retracted towards said one end; means for dressing said wire in said slot; and means for retaining said wire in said second recess.
 3. The tool of claim 2 wherein: said sleeve and said bit cooperate on relative movement of said sleeve in the direction of said one end to capture said insulated wire and urge it against said insulating cutting means, and upon further relative movement, to separate the insulation and urge the wire towards said slot.
 4. The tool of claim 2 wherein: said dressing means comprises a collar slidably mounted on said sleeve and moveable from a loading position near said other end of said sleeve and out board of said aperture to a wrapping position near said one end of said sleeve.
 5. The tool of claim 2 wherein: said retaining means comprises a finger member rotatably mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of said sleeve and moveable from a loading position away from said slot to a wrapping position substantially filling said slot.
 6. The tool of claim 2 wherein: said dressing means is actuated by rack and pinion means in response to movement of said sleeve.
 7. The tool of claim 2 wherein: said retaining means is actuated by cam means in response to movement of said sleeve.
 8. The tool of claim 2 wherein: the partially stripped insulation is retained in said second recess as the wire is wrapped on the terminal.
 9. The tool of claim 2 wherein: upon fully wrapping the stripped wire on the terminal said bit is homed, and said sleeve is returned by said reciprocating means towards said another end, and said dressing means and retaining means are simultaneously returned to a loading position.
 10. The tool of claim 2 wherein: after the terminal is wrapped and the bit is homed, a spring means in said slot removes the stripped insulation from said second recess as said sleeve is moved to the loading position, said insulation exits via said slot.
 11. The tool of claim 2 wherein: said reciprocating means comprises an air piston with spring return.
 12. A tool for cutting and stripping an insulated wire, and for wrapping a portion thereof on a terminal comprising: a motor and a rotary drive spindle; a rotatable wrapping bit operably connected to said spindle at one end, said bit having a terminal receiving recess formed in one end and a second recess extending longitudinally from said terminal receiving recess along the periphery of said bit, said second recess having a knife edge insulation parting insert disposed in said second recess near the opening for said terminal receiving recess; a sleeve slidably mounted in co-axial relationship with said wrapper bit and operably connected to a pressure fluid operated piston reCiprocating means at an end opposite of said terminal receiving recess such that said sleeve may be extended away from said reciprocating means beyond said bit to a loading position and retracted to a wrapping position, said sleeve having an aperture near the terminal end of said bit for receiving insulated wire in a relationship transverse to the axis of said sleeve and a slot extending longitudinally from said aperture towards said reciprocating means; a wire dressing collar slidably disposed about said sleeve and operably connected to said sleeve by lever and rack and pinion means for urging said insulated wire into said slot as the sleeve is reciprocated between the loading and wrapping position; a wire retaining means rotatably mounted about an axis parallel to said sleeve and cam operated between an open loading position and a position which substantially closes the slot; and spring clip means disposed in said slot for urging out insulation retained in said second recess after wrapping. 